SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
CONTEXT
- Every year, 4th July is observed as the death anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, who is regarded as a one of the finest spiritual leaders and intellects India has produced.
ABOUTSWAMI VIVEKANANDA
- He was born as Narendranath Datta on 12th January, 1863.
- National Youth Day is held every year to observe the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
- He was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world.
- He was a major force in the contemporary Socio-religious reform movements in India, and contributed to the concept of nationalism in colonial India.
- Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission.
- He founded the Vedanta Society of New York in 1894 after successful speech atParliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago
IMPORTANT WORKS OF VIVEKANANDA
- Raja Yoga – It was interpretation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras adapted for a Western audience. The book was published in July 1896. It became an instant success and was highly influential in the Western understanding of yoga.
- Sangeet Kalpataru – It is a Bengali language song anthology edited and compiled by Swami Vivekananda. The book was a compilation of Bengali songs. It also discussed different aspects of vocal and instrumental music.The book was divided into different sections and songs were arranged by theme. The first sections included patriotic songs. The book included twelve Rabindra Sangeets.
- Lectures from Colombo to Almora – After visiting the West, Vivekananda reached Colombo, British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on 15 January 1897.Then Vivekananda travelled extensively and visited many Indian states.On 19 June (1897) he reached Almora. The lectures delivered by him in this period were compiled into the book Lectures from Colombo to Almora. The book contains reports of his 17 lectures.